Cost of Living Comparison Between Wilkes-Barre, PA and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Wilkes-Barre, PA and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Wilkes-Barre, PA is 6.4% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 4.4% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Wilkes-Barre, PA is 6% more expensive than Chicago, IL without rent, and 11.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.3 $30.3

$20.82 $20.82

45.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 $50.1

$100 $100

-50.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 $10.64

$11.97 $11.97

-11.11%

Cappuccino

$3.86 $3.86

$5.56 $5.56

-30.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$3.11 $3.11

-68.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.42 $2.42

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.98 $7.98

$6.86 $6.86

16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.89 $11.89

$8.45 $8.45

40.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.04 $1.04

54.81%

White Bread (500g)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.15 $4.15

26.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.32 $8.32

$5.52 $5.52

50.72%

Eggs

$6.92 $6.92

$4.65 $4.65

48.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.58 $17.58

$14.33 $14.33

22.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.19 $16.19

$14.88 $14.88

8.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.99 $19.99

$19.34 $19.34

3.36%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 $7.39

$5.17 $5.17

42.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.71 $1.71

41.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.7 $5.7

$4.41 $4.41

29.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.46 $6.46

$4.51 $4.51

43.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$2.53 $2.53

48.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.74 $2.74

45.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.2 $3.2

$2.43 $2.43

31.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.7 $2.7

-5.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.85 $18.85

$15.19 $15.19

24.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.95 $18.95

$16.42 $16.42

15.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.35 $2.35

22.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.7 $3.7

4.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.53 $2.53

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 $5.04

$3.34 $3.34

50.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.42 $1.42

-4.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.48 $42.48

$25.42 $25.42

67.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.9 $0.9

$1.08 $1.08

-16.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K $35.3K

$32.4K $32.4K

8.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28K $28K

$26.2K $26.2K

6.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$184 $184

$188 $188

-2.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$61 $61

$63.7 $63.7

-4.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$65.2 $65.2

-2.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.53 $43.53

$76.7 $76.7

-43.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$19.79 $19.79

$14.93 $14.93

32.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,131 $3,131

$2,063 $2,063

51.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66 $66

$64.3 $64.3

2.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.35 $47.35

$52.4 $52.4

-9.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 $112

$95.2 $95.2

17.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 $169

$145 $145

16.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,626 $1,626

$2,378 $2,378

-31.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,358 $1,358

$1,584 $1,584

-14.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,585 $2,585

$4,763 $4,763

-45.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,235 $2,235

$2,815 $2,815

-20.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,384 $2,384

$3,588 $3,588

-33.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,439 $2,439

$2,490 $2,490

-2.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,369 $4,369

$5,275 $5,275

-17.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.6

-2.42%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Wilkes-Barre, PA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

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